ACT · Unincorporated ACT Council

Bonython, 2905

Est. population · Jun 2025

3,774

Growth (1 yr)

0.0%

Growth (5 yr)

-1.9%

Median age

38

Median income

$2,223/wk

Employment rate

66.7%

Languages at home

22.3%non-English

Most common: Arabic, Vietnamese, Bengali

2021 Census · usual residence

Desirability score

50.3/100
Average

93rd in ACT

Verified 77% confidence

How this score is calculated
  • Green suburb
  • Education hub
  • Heritage area
  • High desirability
What Bonython is known for: Green suburb, Education hub, Heritage area, High desirability

Suburb profile

In Unincorporated ACT, Bonython is a settled mid-sized suburb with a familiar suburban feel and good links to the wider city. Residents are mostly families and working professionals, with family life visible on every street. Sport and recreation are easy to access, with local venues supporting active weekends and after-work routines.

Green space punches above what many metro suburbs offer, with parks and playgrounds woven through the suburb. Buses serve the suburb. Homes cost more here than in most comparable suburbs.

Reported crime has been falling recently. Light infill development is updating a few streets while the wider area stays largely unchanged.

Desirability lands around average here: softer growth momentum weighing on the result versus similar metro suburbs, even with community and employment, plus schools and education holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.

At a glance

Bonython snapshot

A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk

Median house price

No data available

Median rent

No data available

Population (ERP)

3,774

0.0% annual growth

Dwelling vacancy

4.6%

Census unoccupied dwellings

Livability profile

Desirability pillars vs the peer median (50th percentile)

How it compares

Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles

Desirability

#58

among Metro Canberra · Established

Safety

17th

percentile in state (higher = safer)

Pop. growth

33rd

percentile in ACT

Advantage (IRSAD)

9/10

national SEIFA decile

School ICSEA

72nd

percentile among schools with ICSEA

Population growth

Recent ERP change over 1 and 5 years

Housing mix

Dwelling types from the 2021 Census

Risks & flags

Quick scan — open a section below for full context

Living here

Desirability

Ranks & confidence
Desirability score
50.3/100 — Average
National rank
2140th in Australia
State rank
93rd in ACT
Peer rank
#58 among Metro Canberra · Established suburbs
Cohort rank
#93 among Metro Canberra suburbs
Data confidence
77%

Data sources & freshness

  • Suburb Guide desirability indexSuburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated

Population

Estimated resident population

3,774(June 2025)

0.0% annual · -1.9% over 5 years · 33th percentile in ACT

Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
0.0%
5-year growth
-1.9%
Change in 1 year
0
Change in 5 years
-71
Growth rank in ACT
33th percentile

ABS Estimated Resident Population allocated to this suburb from SA2-level data. Not an official ABS suburb count.

Methodology

Figures are allocated from ABS Estimated Resident Population at Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2), using 2021 Census share within overlapping SA2 regions. Where Census data is unavailable, area overlap is used instead.

The dashed chart line is a simple growth-trend estimate to June 2030 (~3,750), extrapolated at -0.2% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.

2021 Census figures

2021 Census

Population
3,839
Median age
38
Median household income / week
$2,223
Dwelling vacancy
4.6%
Unoccupied private dwellings
69 of 1,511
Median monthly mortgage
$1,950
Employment rate
66.7%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
856 / 428 / 162

Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)

Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community ProfileAustralian Bureau of Statistics · Updated

    The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.

  • Estimated Resident PopulationAustralian Bureau of Statistics · 2025 · Updated · SA2 ERP allocated to suburb boundaries

Community & culture

No 2021 Census cultural diversity data for this suburb yet.

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community ProfileAustralian Bureau of Statistics · Updated

    The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.

Crime & safety

Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.

Offence counts & rates
Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
40
Against the person
4
Against property
16
Rate per 1,000 residents
10.6
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 960 residents
State safety percentile
16.8th (lower crime is better)
Decrease (daily rate)
-68.9%

Most common offence types

  • Motor Vehicle Theft3
  • Other Offences20
  • Property Damage5
  • Theft (Excluding Motor Vehicles)8
  • Assault - Fv3

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)

Crime rate and year-on-year trend

Data sources & freshness

  • ACT crime statistics by suburb (quarterly)ACT Policing / dataACT · Jan 2024 to Dec 2024 → Jan 2025 to Dec 2025; Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 · Updated · Quarterly XLSX release

Family & Lifestyle

Schools & preschools

Schools within 2 km
4
Median school ICSEA (4 schools)
1,060
Median ICSEA percentile
72th
School list
  • Bonython Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1034 · 62th percentile · LBOTE 30% · 341 students · Top SEA quarter 17% · 0.4 km awayView on My School →
  • Isabella Plains Early Childhood SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1052 · 69th percentile · LBOTE 36% · 69 students · Top SEA quarter 28% · 1.1 km awayView on My School →
  • Covenant Christian SchoolCombined · Independent · ICSEA 1090 · 81th percentile · LBOTE 54% · 320 students · Top SEA quarter 33% · 1.3 km awayView on My School →
  • St Mary MacKillop CollegeSecondary · Catholic · ICSEA 1068 · 75th percentile · LBOTE 8% · 2,088 students · Top SEA quarter 27% · 1.6 km awayView on My School →

Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)

School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA

Data sources & freshness

Childcare

1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap

  • Stepping Stoneskindergarten

Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)

Childcare centre count

Data sources & freshness

  • Childcare servicesOpenStreetMap · current · Updated

Amenities

79 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km

1 bakeries · 7 playgrounds · 12 swimming pools

Local character & venue list

Local character

  • A car helps for daily errands
  • Great for outdoor family life8 parks mapped in suburb, 7 playgrounds nearby
  • Well connected by public transport22 public transport stops
  • Strong local sport and recreation22 sport and outdoor facilities nearby
Walkability proxy
32/100
Cafés per 1,000 residents
0
Food & drink per 1,000 residents
0.26
Parks per 1,000 residents
2.08
Food & drink(1)
  • Cake LoversBakery
Community(2)
  • Stepping StonesKindergarten
  • Bonython Primary SchoolSchool
Sport & outdoors(30)
  • Park (8)
  • Bonython Primary SchoolPlayground
  • Burgoyne Street Central Community ParkPlayground
  • Hussey Cove Neighbourhood PlaygroundPlayground
  • Marquet Retreat Neighbourhood PlaygroundPlayground
  • Morice Place Neighbourhood PlaygroundPlayground
  • Playground (2)
  • Bonython 101Sports field
  • Bonython 102Sports field
  • Sports field
  • Swimming pool (12)
Transport(22)

22 bus stops

Other(7)
  • Bbq (2)
  • Common
  • Garden
  • Parking (7)
  • Parking Space (11)
  • Post Box
  • Bonython Neighbourhood HubSocial Facility

Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually.

Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)

Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)

Data sources & freshness

  • Local amenity insightsSuburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
  • OpenStreetMap amenitiesOpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated

Green cover

Parks & woodland (OSM)
39
Parks (OSM)
8

OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.

Contributes to desirability score · Environment (10%)

Parks and green cover (OpenStreetMap)

Data sources & freshness

Health access

Nearest hospital
Canberra Hospital (9.9 km)
Nearest hospital type
Hospital
Nearest hospital emergency
Emergency department

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)

Hospitals and GP clinics

Data sources & freshness

NDIS participation

NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
110
Participants per 1,000 residents
29.1

Active NDIS participants allocated from NDIA Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2, ASGS 2016) counts to this suburb boundary. Not an official suburb-level NDIS figure · as at 31 March 2026.

For NDIS spend and service-demand exploration by SA2 or postcode, see the Care Sector Demand Map.

Data sources & freshness

Weather

Typical conditions by season for suburbs in the same ~44 km climate area. Rainfall totals are summed from monthly WorldClim layers; rainy-day counts are approximate.

Summer (Dec–Feb)

Usual max / min
25° / 10°
Rainfall
168 mm · ~21 rainy days

Autumn (Mar–May)

Usual max / min
19° / 5°
Rainfall
142 mm · ~18 rainy days

Winter (Jun–Aug)

Usual max / min
11° / -2°
Rainfall
105 mm · ~13 rainy days

Spring (Sep–Nov)

Usual max / min
18° / 4°
Rainfall
161 mm · ~20 rainy days

Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)

Temperature and humidity comfort

Data sources & freshness

  • Seasonal climate normalsWorldClim 2.1 · Updated

Future & Planning

Planning & development

Development applications from ACT planning register (lodged 2020–2026).

10 planning-related records

2025· 3 proposals
  • September 2025

  • SUBC
    BONYTHON · TUGGERANONGCompleted
  • SUBC
    BONYTHON · TUGGERANONGCompleted
  • May 2025

  • SUBC
    BONYTHON · TUGGERANONGCompleted
2023· 2 proposals
  • May 2023

  • SUBC
    BONYTHON · TUGGERANONGCompleted
  • January 2023

  • SUBC
    BONYTHON · TUGGERANONGCompleted
2022· 2 proposals
  • April 2022

  • SUBC
    BONYTHON · TUGGERANONGCompleted
  • March 2022

  • SUBC
    BONYTHON · TUGGERANONGCompleted
2021· 2 proposals
  • December 2021

  • SUBC
    BONYTHON · TUGGERANONGCompleted
  • March 2021

  • SUBC
    BONYTHON · TUGGERANONGCompleted
2020· 1 proposal
  • February 2020

  • SUBC
    BONYTHON · TUGGERANONGCompleted

Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)

Development and planning activity

Data sources & freshness

  • Active & completed development applicationsACT Planning · 2020–2026 · Updated

Heritage

1 heritage place

  • Aboriginal Places along Urban and Rural Bushfire Containment LinesCLB5B3 - Registered Places or Objects

Data sources & freshness

  • State heritage registerState heritage authority · current · Updated

Hazards

Bushfire planning zone
Overlay applies

Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via ACT Bushfire Prone Area (SBMP) mapping.

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)

Bushfire hazard overlays

Data sources & freshness

  • Hazard planning overlaysState government hazard layers · current · Updated

Politics & representation

Federal electorate
Bean
Member of Parliament
David SMITH (Australian Labor Party)
Results from
2025 federal election
Electorate enrolment (2025)
113,876
Turnout (2025)
92.5%
Swing since 2022 (2025)
+6.3 pp toward Labor

Two-party preferred (2025)

Coalition 30.7%Labor 69.3%

Estimated suburb voting profile

Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 3.1 km away).

Coalition 32.9%Labor 67.1%

2.2 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate

Estimated swing since 2022: +6.7 pp toward Labor

Nearest polling places

  • BonythonLabor 69.0% · Coalition 31.0% TPP (2025)0.5 km away
  • Gordon NorthLabor 56.0% · Coalition 44.0% TPP (2025)1.0 km away
  • Isabella PlainsLabor 69.7% · Coalition 30.3% TPP (2025)1.1 km away
  • GordonLabor 69.1% · Coalition 30.9% TPP (2025)2.4 km away
  • MonashLabor 68.0% · Coalition 32.0% TPP (2025)2.4 km away

Federal electorate from AEC federal division boundaries (2025 redistribution). Division-level results are official AEC figures from the latest general election, with by-election updates where applicable. The estimated suburb profile blends up to eight nearest ordinary polling booths in the same electorate using inverse-distance weighting from the suburb centroid — an approximation, not official AEC data. Nearest polling places are shown for reference.

Data sources & freshness

Socio-economic

IRSAD decile (2021)
9/10
IRSD decile (2021)
8/10

ABS Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), 2021 release — the latest available, derived from the 2021 Census. Deciles rank suburbs nationally from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).

What do IRSAD and IRSD measure?

IRSAD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage. Combines indicators of advantage (e.g. high income, skilled occupations) and disadvantage. Higher decile = more advantaged relative to other Australian areas.

IRSD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage. Focuses on disadvantage only (e.g. low income, unemployment, limited education). Higher decile = less disadvantage nationally.

A new SEIFA edition typically follows each census; the ABS has not announced a release date beyond 2021.

Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)

Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)

Data sources & freshness

Compare with

Similar suburbs to weigh up side by side — scores, safety, schools, and lifestyle.

More in Unincorporated ACT Council

Other suburbs in the same local government area.

Comparable suburbs

Similar population and socio-economic profile elsewhere in Australian Capital Territory or interstate.